4 Must-Have Elements That Every WordPress Business Website Needs

Nowadays, just about every business can benefit from an online presence. A lot of people take to the web to look up companies before doing business with them, and if you dont have a website that makes an impression, they may end up going to your competitors instead. Thats why you need a WordPress business website that projects professionalism.A business website succeeds or fails depending on its features. For example, you cant expect to woo customers without telling them what you do, showing them who theyll be working with, or giving them an easy way to contact you. This seems obvious, but you might be surprised at the number of company websites that dont include such basic information.In this article, well talk about what makes for an excellent WordPress business website. Then well introduce you to four elements that your business site should include, and provide you with guidance about how to add each of them. Lets get down to business! The key to an outstanding business website is to include all the relevant information your visitors will care about, such as:What you do, and what products and services you provide.Who youve worked for in the past, and what are your most successful projects have been.Who makes up your team, and what their roles are.How to get in touch with you.Depending on your field, theres probably more information youll want to display on your own site. For now, however, lets focus on the basics.Four key elements to an outstanding WordPress business websiteIn this section, were going to explain how to incorporate some of the important elements we discussed above. To be more specific, well talk about four aspects of your site that youll want to get right from the very beginning, so you can start off with a solid foundation.1. An excellent WordPress business themeWordPress themes enable you to get professional websites up and running quickly, thanks to a combination of pre-built layouts and other powerful features. There are themes out there for almost every field of business you can imagine, and even a few multi-purpose options that can be adapted to suit your needs.Often, your best bet will be to opt for a theme thats tailored to your area of business, since those tend to offer the most specific features. For example, a restaurant business theme might include built-in menu functionality you can take advantage of. To put it another way, you want to pick a theme that looks great  and  showcases whats best about your company and the services you offer.Picking the right theme can be complicated, especially since there are both free and premium options available. The latter often offer more features and better support, which makes them a solid choice if youre willing to put in a small investment.For the best possible results, youll want to check out some advice on how to pick a great theme. When youre ready to start looking, youll probably want to limit your search to reputable theme repositories, such as WordPress.org and our own collection here at ThemeIsle.2. An overview of what your business offersThe first thing youll want to do once youve set up your theme is introduce your visitors to what your business offers. For example, what services do you provide, and how can  your clients benefit from them?That last part is of particular importance. After all, your WordPress business website is essentially a way for you to promote your company. The best way to do that isnt by talking too much about yourself, but by focusing on what you can do for your customers and clients.There are several ways to go about including this information. For example, our Neve theme enables you to add dedicated  About  sections that cover what your company does and the services it provides:In the screenshot above, youll notice one feature that stands out in particular – the skill bars. Theyre a popular choice these days because they provide you with an engaging way to show your customers what your team has to offer. The better you are at a particular task, the higher the corresponding skill bar should be set. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to add skill bars to your site, no matter what theme youre using.3. A showcase of your team membersAt this stage, your website should have the perfect business theme and include as much information as necessary about your services. Now its time to get a bit more personal, and offer some details about your team:Even if youre running a one or two-man operation, its important to put faces and names to the services you provide. This is a small detail, but it can help encourage potential customers to trust you more, and maybe even nudge them towards signing a contract with you.Fortunately, WordPress provides you with plenty of ways to display your team in all its glory. For example, you can use the Team plugin to create a dedicated team section for your website, including short biographies and links to social media: Team Author(s): RadiusThemeC urrent Version: 2.4.3Last Updated: May 31, 2019tlp-team.2.4.3.zip 90%Ratings 84,317Downloads WP 4.5+Requires This isnt the only team section plugin available, but it offers an impressive amount of  customization options. Plus, adding new team members is remarkably simple, which is something youll appreciate as your company grows in size.4. An easy way to contact youOnce youve given your potential customers information on your services and team members to get them interested, you want to make sure that those interested customers canactually contact you!Yup if you want your WordPress business website to be a success, you should add a contact form.Dont worry its pretty easy to do. We actually have an entire guide on how to add a contact form to WordPress.ConclusionA professional business website isnt just about providing you with an online presence. It can also be an asset when it comes to convincing new clients and customers to jump on board,  and it lets visitors  know t hat youre serious about your work. An excellent WordPress business theme.An overview of what your business offers.A showcase of your team members.An easy method of contact, like a contact form.Do you have any questions about how to incorporate these elements into your WordPress business website? Lets talk about them in the comments section below!Free guide5 Essential Tips to Speed Up Your WordPress SiteReduce your loading time by even 50-80% just by following simple tips.

Group Counseling

Group Counseling Introduction Group counseling is a type of therapy that involves a small group of people sharing a similar experience or similar problems. Individuals who are experiencing difficulties that they wish to resolve usually involve the use of counseling to help them deal with these difficulties. Group counseling sessions are usually designed to deal with specific problems that the individual is usually aware of prior to joining the group.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Group Counseling specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The members of the group establish their own individual goals which they use during the group counseling sessions so that they can empathize and support one another (Jacobs et al, 2009). Christian group counseling is a type of counseling that is conducted by a Christian group counselor where the group therapy is mostly focused on Christ and biblical teachings. The role of the Holy Trinity plays an important part in Christian counseling as members are offered a theological perspective on how to deal with their problems (Tan, 2011). During Christian counseling sessions, the teachings of the Bible act as a source of support and inspiration for the members, helping them to change their self defeating behavior which caused them to be admitted into the group counseling program. This form of therapy therefore offers a fundamentally different experience from that of normal group counseling. Christianity based group therapy offers the various members of the group with a sense of belonging as biblical teachings are used to help the members deal with their psychological problems. The use of Christianity and Christian based principles enables the members of the group to have a sense of self discovery to the group members where they accept parts of themselves that they did not like before. It also enables people to express themselves and relay their feelings to others during the group cou nseling session. This form of therapy has been effective in treating people who suffer from certain social vices such as alcoholism, drug addiction, and obsessive compulsive behavior and sexual addiction. The purpose of this study will be to discuss the aspect of ethics in group counseling with particular focus on Christian counseling as well as the techniques or measures that are used to uphold ethics during group counseling sessions (Corey, 2008).Advertising Looking for research paper on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Codes of Ethics in Counseling Ethical dilemmas during Christian group counseling just as with any other form of counseling are a common occurrence in every stage of the therapy sessions. Christian group leaders usually face ethical issues when they try to cater for the therapeutic needs of the group members while at the same time navigating through various ethical issues. Codes of ethics therefore become an important asset when managing the various issues that might arise during group counseling. Codes of ethics help the work of the group facilitator so that he can be able to concentrate on the therapeutic treatment of the group members. As with any other profession around the world, group counselors are obligated to follow certain codes of ethics as they perform their duties. A code of ethics basically provides the guidelines that will prohibit behavior a professional’s behavior during the performance of their work (Waack, 2004). In the field of counseling, any membership to professional associations such as the American Psychological Association (APA), American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) or the American Counseling Association (ACA) requires the counseling professional to adhere to the ethical codes of ethics and conduct when performing their work duties. Group counselors have professional obligations to observe the code of ethics set out by these organizations which will guide their duties and responsibilities during group counseling. All counselors are subject to the code of ethics that governs their profession and they have to follow the various ordinances while performing their work. The ethical dilemma however arises when the laid down codes of ethics are unable to address or anticipate emerging ethical issues which always arise during group counseling sessions. While codes of ethics are updated once in a while, they fail to reflect the current state of affairs in the counseling profession. Provisions that are rarely changed once they have been written make it difficult for them to be applied in various group counseling contexts. This makes the job of the group counselor difficult as they try to meet the therapeutic needs of their patients (Waack, 2004).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Group Counseling specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Whil e the professional codes of ethics that govern the work of group counselors are general in nature, they contain vital provisions that address the needs of a group’s members. For example the ACA 1997 Code of Ethics and Standards has several provisions that relate to the therapeutic treatment of groups undergoing counseling where Section A9 of the code of ethics deals with the counseling relationship that exists within the group as well as the protection of the member’s therapeutic needs. This provision requires the group facilitator to exercise ethics when administering treatment for his/her patients. Ethics in group counseling is therefore important to ensure the barriers in reducing or eliminating behavioral problems in patients are reduced (ACA, 2005). The APA Code of Conduct 2002 also has provisions that will govern the ethical responsibility of group counselors during the counseling sessions. It also provides stipulations that the counselor will use when managing t he treatment of the various people who have been placed in the group. The code incorporated a specific reference that would be used to explain ethical standards in group therapy. Section 10 of the Code of Conduct stipulates that when psychologists or group counselors provide therapeutic services to members in a group counseling session, they have to explain the roles and responsibilities of all the members in the group to ensure that there is cohesion during the counseling sessions and that group members are aware of the therapeutic needs of others. All therapists, psychologists and group counselors are subject to the requirements that are placed on their roles and responsibilities by the codes of ethics. The ethical codes stipulated by both the ACA and APA specify the limits on confidentiality that have to be followed when administering treatment to group members during the counseling sessions (Borders Brown, 2005). The AACC Codes of Ethics are different from those of ACA and APA as they are mostly founded on the seven biblical-ethical foundations the first of which bases ethical practices in counseling on Jesus Christ and his revelations in both the Old and New Testaments.Advertising Looking for research paper on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The second foundation on Christian counseling is based on maintaining committed relationships with a body of believers while the third foundation requires the Christian counselor to be more spiritual and psychosocial so as to lead the group members in a spiritual process of change and transformation. The fourth foundation requires all Christian counselors to demonstrate both ethical and spiritual integrity in the course of performing their work while the fifth foundation requires Christian counselors to respect the biblical revelations based on human life. The sixth foundation of the AACC Codes of Ethics deals with the protection of the Christian counselor’s identity while the seventh foundation requires counselors to be mindful of how they represent Jesus during the counseling sessions (Tan, 2011). The role of a Christian counselor is different from that of a normal counselor where the unique characteristics that distinguish their role from that of others includes unique ass umptions which are mostly based on the Bible where their counseling activities are based on the authority of the Bible, unique goals that are mostly directed towards facilitating spiritual growth, unique methods where the Christian counselor goes beyond the general techniques of counseling by using spiritual interventions and the unique giftedness which comes from Christian spirituality and prayers (Tan, 2011). Key Ethical Concepts Ethics and ethical practice in any profession goes beyond the execution of laid down mandates or requirements that come with performing the profession. As the practice of health care and mental health continues to become more complex in today’s dynamic world, therapists and counselors face various challenges in the execution of their jobs which makes it difficult to practice ethics. Ethical issues in group counseling become more complicated as diverse individuals with diverse problems converge to share their problems in a group setting. In such com plex situations, group leaders have to demonstrate to all the members of the group that they are honest and respectful in their activities as they lead the group members during the therapy sessions (Borders Brown, 2005). While the body of literature that exists on counseling and ethical practices has increased over the years, very limited research exists on Christian counseling and ethics with particular focus on group therapy. The general research on counseling has mostly focused on understanding the various complex issues that arise as a result of ethics in the course of administering therapeutic treatment. Various research works have discussed about the ethical and moral practices that exist in counseling and psychology as well as the role of integrity, values and beliefs in ethical practices. Other aspects that have been covered include the ethical decision making models that are used by professional counselors and psychologists as they conduct group sessions where ethical deci sion making has created a lot of debate in the field of counseling and mental health psychology (Waack, 2004). For the purposes of addressing the question understudy properly, the ethical concepts in general counseling will be used. Various researchers and experts in the field have called for ethical practice while making decisions which has proven difficult for some group counselors who cannot make a compromise between ethics and therapy. This has presented a major challenge for group facilitators who under the code of ethics are required to demonstrate ethical thinking and measure the presence of ethical behavior during group counseling sessions (Baker, 2001). Group facilitators have been challenged to exercise moral principles when effecting their ethical decisions where they have to consider the individual needs of the members in the group to ensure that their therapeutic treatments are effective in dealing with the individual problems of members in the group. The application of moral principles within group counseling has to be considered carefully by the group facilitator where principles such as beneficence, autonomy and fidelity have to be practiced to ensure group therapy is effective. Autonomy in group counseling allows the members within the group to exercise freedom of choice and participation in group counseling where the general assumption is that the individual has that capability to make sound decisions (Waack, 2004). Ethics in client autonomy involves the group facilitator accepting that an individual group member is able to exercise their decision to participate or not participate in the group counseling session and not doing anything that goes against the individual member’s autonomy. Ethical issues in client autonomy usually arise as a result of the various aspects of participation and choices that members have to make when participating in group therapy. A silent member might decide to exercise autonomy by not contributing or offeri ng to share about their problems or psychological experiences that led them to group counseling. The silence of the member might be taken as resistance or refusal to participate in group matters and the challenge for the group counselor lies in getting the member to share (Waack, 2004). A skillful group facilitator can be able to get the member to participate in the group through active assistance and educating the members of the group on the various styles of participation in group counseling. The principle of beneficence requires that people should do good to others and the ethics that underlines this principle reflects harm prevention (Waack, 2004). In a group setting, group counselors could demonstrate beneficence by responding to discussions focused on psychological symptoms that lead to depression, stress or other psychological problems. The group facilitator could help the members in the group to identify common experiences they have had with depression which will eventually help them develop suitable coping strategies for their symptoms (Baker, 2001). Ethics in Group Counseling and Importance The requirements for being a Christian counselor require a person to observe Christianity and biblical teachings as well as follow the AACC Codes of Ethics which are based on biblical teachings. People who intend to be Christian counselors need to first evaluate their ethical standards and level of competence before they take over the leadership of a group. This will require them to observe the codes of ethics that govern the counseling profession for both the Christian Counselor and general counselors. As mentioned earlier, in the course of their work group counselors experience various ethical issues that are presented by the various members of the group during the counseling sessions. Some of the ethical issues that affect Christian group counselors include the psychological risks of the various members of the group, the personal relationship that the facilitat or has with the group members, informed consent, the impact of the facilitator’s personal values (Christian values) on the group, working with diverse clients and the competence of the leader to handle the various issues presented by the group members (Corey, 2008). In relation to the rights of group members, the Christian Counselor has the ethical responsibility to inform the various members of the group about their right when it comes to group counseling. One of these rights is informed consent where the group leader offers basic information to the clients before they join the group. This is meant to prepare them on what to expect during the counseling sessions so that they do not become too overwhelmed. It is therefore the ethical responsibility of the group leader to provide a description of the group as well as the ground rules and procedures that will be followed during group counseling sessions. The rights of members during group counseling involve receiving guidance f rom the group counselor on what is expected from them during the counseling sessions, receiving assistance from the group leader in implementing coping strategies for their everyday use and receiving consultation from the group leader in the event a crisis occurs (Corey et al, 2007). With regards to client confidentiality, group facilitators need to realize that confidentiality is a central ethical issue when managing a group. Confidentiality is an important component meant to ensure that there is effective group work during counseling sessions. The American Counseling Association provides a section in the ACA Code of Ethics that deals with client confidentiality during group counseling. The code of ethics stipulates that during group therapy, counselors have to explain to their group members the importance of confidentiality during the group sessions. Facilitators therefore have to maintain the confidence of group members and also impress on the other members of the group to mainta in the confidential nature of information that is revealed within the group. A good ethical practice of the group leader will be to remind the participants of the group time to time on the dangers of revealing confidential information to other people who are not members of the group (Corey, 2008). The ethical issue of psychological risks in groups is another important issue that group facilitators need to bear in mind as they conduct group counseling activities. Groups can be powerful catalysts when it comes to necessitating change in individual members but this comes with some psychological risks on members which could be drastic life changes that cause a disruption on the individual’s daily routine, destructive confrontations that might further exacerbate the psychological well being of the individual and harmful socialization processes between the various members of the group which might cause an individual’s personality to change. The group leader has to realize th at groups in group counseling present certain risks once the initial stage of the counseling has been completed (Waack, 2004). The group leader therefore has to protect the members from all the negative outcomes that occur from participating in group therapy. The facilitator of the group has the ethical responsibility to ensure that group members are aware of the potential negative outcomes that might arise from taking part in group activities. The ACA Code of Ethics provides a specification for all psychologists and group counselors to deal with psychological risks where it stipulates that counselors need to take considerable precautions to protect the members of the group from any physical, emotional or psychologically damaging experiences that might ruin their group counseling experience (Hodges, 2010). The minimal ethical expectation is that group facilitators should at least discuss the advantages and disadvantages of groups when it comes to participations and sharing experienc es that are meant to help the group member change. Group facilitators should prepare their clients to deal with any problems that might arise during the group counseling experience to ensure they do not suffer from any psychological problems. Group facilitators should also be alert to any changes in the group’s members where they demonstrate completely different behavior from what would be expected after they completed their therapeutic treatment (Corliss Corliss, 2009). When it comes to the ethical issue of the facilitator client relationship, group facilitators need to realize that they have an obligation to the client to administer suitable treatments while at the same time maintaining a professional relationship with the client. Facilitators need to ensure they do not misuse their role when meeting their personal needs at the expense of the group members. In the event they do so, they commit an ethical violation which goes against the code of ethics that governs their pr ofession. The role of group counselors is to ensure group members achieve their therapy goals while at the same time maintaining ethical practices (Cottone Tarvydas, 2003). Conclusion This discussion has dealt with the ethics a Christian counselor in group counseling and how group counselors are subject to the codes of ethics that govern the counseling profession. The discussion has dealt with the codes of ethics that exist in counseling as well as the key concepts and issues that arise in group counseling. It has also dealt with ethics in counseling where various ethical issues have been discussed as well as the ethical obligation of the group facilitator in group counseling. References American Counseling Association (ACA) (2005). ACA code of ethics. Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association. Retrieved from Baker, S. (2001). Coping-skills training for adolescents: Applying cognitive-behavioral principles to psychoeducational groups. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 26 (3), 219-227. Borders, L.D., Brown, L.L., (2005). The new handbook of counseling supervision. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Corey, G., (2008). Theory and practice of group counseling. Belmont, California: Thomson Higher Education Corey, G., Corey, M. S., Callanan, P. (2007). Issues and ethics in the helping  professions. Belmont, California: Thomson Higher Education Corliss, L.A., Corliss, R.A., (2009). Group work: a practical guide to developing  groups in agency settings. New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons Cottone, R.R., Tarvydas, V.M., (2003). Ethical and professional issues in counseling. New York: Prentice Hall Hodges, S., (2010). The counseling practicum and internship manual. New York: Springer Publishing Company Jacobs, E.E., Masson, R.L., Harvill, R.L., (2009). Group counseling. Belmont, California: Thomson Higher Education Tan, S.Y., (2011). Counseling and psychotherapy: a Christian perspective. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Publishing Group Waack, J.L., (2004). Handbook of group counseling and psychotherapy. Michigan: Sage Publications

Financial Statement Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Financial Statement Analysis - Research Paper Example Being a government financed company, it was able to compete very strongly with du, since the telecom company used infrastructure which had been installed for a more than a decade .DU, however, under a powerful management has been able to overcome its competitor such that by the year 2011 du no longer felt the effect of the competitor due to its overwhelming growth. By the year 2011 the company was able to control more than 46% of the mobile industry. The following paper examines changes in the company performance through a financial analysis. The paper will analyze by a trend analysis from the year 2010 to the year 2011.From the analysis there are some major findings that have been gathered such as the company was able to increase its revenue by 25%- one of the largest growth in the MENA region. There was also very high market share of more than 46% by year 2011 (du, 2012). The liquidity and solvency ratios had gone up from the year 2010 to 2011; this showed that the companiesâ€℠¢ potential to pay short term debts had increased hence was able to run the business more smoothly. Other important findings shows an increase in companies net profit margin, gearing ratios and furthermore the company had been ranked the best in the social corporate responsibility, which is an evidence of companies improved performance. The following research is therefore very crucial to all investor who are willing to invest in profitable business. It is also beneficial to the company in order to understand areas of weakness, which need much attention in the coming years. Detailed information is based on the financial analysis covered in the paper. Introduction Emirates integrated telecommunication is a company in the telecommunication industry, which was formed and undertakes its operation in Dubai. The company, through its exclusive performance, became listed in the Dubai financial markets and was therefore authorized to trade under the name DU. The Company has become popular due to provision of the best product and services in the mobile industry such as the blackberry service and the low off peak rates for the international calls. The following report is intended to analyze the major aspects which has made du company grow in such a high rate, it will be based on the strength of the company and also the financial statement will be analyzed in order to predict the future performance of the business. The analysis can therefore be helpful to potential investors since all the important aspects will be covered. To date du company has shown a continuous growth and increase in value give that by the year 2011 they were able to serve d more than 46% of the UAE mobile market this is in accordance to the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority such performance can only be achieved by companies which have proper management and strategies and this is one of the strength of du company. The paper has been undertaken under several topic which will make it more elaborate and informative and these will include company profile, market position, company ownership, economic environment, financial position, financial analysis with reference to the industrial requirement, SWOT analysis and there after the conclusion. Company profile Emirates integrated Telecommunication Company, which is based in the EUA region was formed in the year 2007. The company was formed with the aim of providing telecommunication services. DU provided internet services and pay TV service on that particular year and in addition went further to provide the nationwide fixed telephone services by July 2007. By the fourth quarter of the year 2011 the company had acquired a total of 5.2 million mobile customers. The company is known for being the first introducers of the â€Å"

Inflation and Government Economic Policies Essay

Inflation and Government Economic Policies - Essay Example Economists tend to view moderate inflation favorably as it enables an economy to withstand a recession and empowers monetary policies to stabilize the economy. Additionally, inflation serves as a benchmark for a growing economy. Inflation may be regulated through monetary and fiscal policies by the monetary authorities. The Consumer Price Index is a measure of variations in the cost of a basket of commodities bought by households in a given period. Inflation can be quantified as the annual positive change in the Index. As shown in Table 1, since 2000 the C.P.I. has maintained a steady rise, except for 2009 when it fell (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics., 2015). Such an increase in the Consumer Price Index has been due to increased buying by the consumer. The desire to have the latest electronic gadget has primarily contributed to the increased purchasing, resulting in a positive change in the C.P.I. Additionally, C.P.I has been affected by the amount of disposable income and the relative prices of competing commodities. On the other hand, Producer Price Index (P.P.I) is an average measure of the change in the retailing prices paid to internal producers for their output. While the P.P.I has always been in constant flux, the change in the prices has always been a positive change. The increases in producer prices are due to the increasing cost of raw materials and sources of energy. Due to the constantly fluctuating prices of oil, which is a major raw material or source of energy, the P.P.I has always reflected the flux experienced in the global oil prices. In 2009, PPI experienced a negative change due to falling prices of raw materials during the financial crisis as shown in Table 2 (U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics., 2015). Consumer Expenditure Survey (C.E) is a federal survey that tracks the purchasing behavior of American consumers through the Quarterly Interview Survey and the Diary Survey. Since

Futuristic Theory in Designs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Futuristic Theory in Designs - Essay Example The future of technology is still promising. Futurologists have used designs to predict today’s impossibility that may become a reality tomorrow. The challenges and problems are many and require people to think beyond the current situation. Given that the problems can be predicted, designs can be used to predict the preferable solutions and alternatives for future problems.   The Foragers, Stop and Scan, Afterlife and EM Listeners will be the designs that will be analysed in the paper. The four designs are a representative of four significant concerns: the state of food security when the globe is overpopulated as represented by Foragers, dilemma of insecurity posed by terrorism as represented by Stop and Scan and EM Listeners. Finally, Afterlife is meant to be used domestically when euthanasia will become so common that it will be allowed in private homes for personal use. The designers in these projects are concerned with the expressive, functional, and communicative possibilities of the emerging technologies as well as the ethical consequences of the technology in social and cultural milieu. The designs, which are presented in photographic forms, are not predictive. They are meant to pose the question, â€Å"what if?† The designs create, imagine, dream and speculate on the technology that can mediate the world preferred by the people. As it will be seen, Dunne and Raby designs classified under the banner â€Å"between reality and the impossible† are a reflection of the complex and troubled people who are ready to explore solutions to the future challenges. The essay will argue that these designs are worth critical consideration and are a wake call by the designers to the concerned stakeholders to see the possibility and or impossibility of the projects and act before it is too late. The essay will propose that more critical designs are supposed to be created considering the technological future of the world. One such design is the one that could predict the future when the resources are completely depleted and the people turn to the unimaginable polythene materials for food. The theory about the future Between Reality and Impossible is a series of designs that Dunne and Raby made and were exhibited at the international design biennial in Saint Etienne (Regine 1). The designers also produced three dimensional designs that have been used to comment on the pressing issues about the development and growth of mankind. As speculative designs, the selected pieces heighten the experiences of the viewers to understand future themes. They depict four different scenarios that speculate on four pressing issues in the globalised society.The future is said to be unpredictable time period after the present, but is can be foreseen based on the present situations (Gaddis 56). The occurrence of the future is inevitable because time and other laws of physics exist. The resulting inevitability of the future has prompted the present to classify existence into permanent, temporary, and eternity (Gaddis 56). Permanence refers to that existence that will see the whole of the future while temporary is designated to the existence that will come to an end. The study of future or futurology has been stressed by modern practitioners, especially the emphasis of the prediction of an alternative future that is probable and p referable. Future has been explored through art, cultural practices, designs and other ways. For example, there was a futurism movement during the early 20th century that explored most media of art such as sculptures, theatre, music, architecture, and painting among others for their predictability. During this time, futurists were highly interested in the ideas of the future and were not held captive by the issues of past.

Analysis of the Politics of Problem Definition

Analysis of the Politics of Problem Definition INTRODUCTION Comprehending the pros and cons of issues becoming public problems is the clue to understanding the course of action and agenda setting. In the American system there are issues such as poverty, equity, violence, substance abuse, etc. which continuously encroaches on the system but only few can be regarded as public problems and become a consideration for public agenda. Factors like expansion of participation and issue characteristics are liable for a problem to become public. The study assesses the problem definition process using a threshold model of collective behavior. This is based critically on an individual’s threshold of abstinence from the conditions across society. Expectation of the number of individuals who have already crossed the threshold or are likely to cross it influences the inclination of individuals to cross the non-acceptance threshold. To comprehend this, a theoretical framework to the sexual harassment problem and Clarence Thomas Supreme Court nomination hearings has been utilized. It has been tested with factual data for statistical assessment to an array of collective behavior. THE PROCESS OF PROBLEM DEFINITION A multitude of conditions such as pollution, hunger, smoking and child abuse have plagued America through time but there has been no public disclosure to define them as problem. Therefore a divorce prevails between objective conditions and problem definitions. Citizens assess conditions at individual levels. Social influences, values, culture and norms cause an individual to have a neutral or favorable response to the existing conditions. Understanding of objective costs, benefits of a particular condition can vary in individuals and are evaluated accordingly. When the costs of tolerating the conditions become ample, an individual will cross the threshold of public non-acceptance. GRAPHICAL ANALYSIS The graphical representation of the threshold model is used to understand collective behavior. Here, p = individual’s expectation of the proportion of the population that fails to publicly oppose the condition Oi = private assessment of the condition based on the ratio of costs to benefit plus costs of the condition. The private assessment is Oi and expected social non acceptance (1-p). The heavy line represents the threshold at which individuals with different costs and expectations of social non-acceptance are precisely indifferent between publicly accepting versus non-accepting the condition. The space to the left indicates individuals publicly accepting the condition and the right expresses non-acceptance. In fig. 1 individuals who privately assess the costs of the condition move to public non-acceptance only if they have expectations that the proportion of social non-acceptance is greater. When Oi=1, proportion of (1-p) is greater than 0.40 and when Oi=0.75, proportion of (1-p) is larger than 0.50. If media educate the public about the costs and benefits of the conditions there will be changed problem definition. As individuals alter their private evaluations, the slope of the function representing the distribution of threshold, changes. In fig.2 if Oi=0.75 then (1-p) exceeds 0.30 and when Oi=0.50 expected (1-p) exceeds to 0.50 to oppose the condition. The media makes the setting more useful to changing problem definition by changing the distribution of thresholds for individuals. In fig.3 a cumulative density function of social non acceptance (the dashed line) is superimposed onto the threshold function depicted earlier. The upper horizontal axis indicates actual social non-acceptanc e after cost benefit evaluations. This diagram implies that there is wide gap between private cost-benefit assessment and public positions. The stable equilibria level indicated may alter to change in factual data made available by media, political leaders. Problem reevaluation occurs in an interspersed manner due to the swift shift from point of equilibria to another. Testing the applicability of such models is difficult because of exact data requirements aggregate data may be used to analyze to crossing of the threshold levels of non-acceptance. The importance of the feedback mechanism has also been indicated. SEXUAL HARRASSMENT AND THE CLARENCE THOMAS SUPREME COURT NOMINATION HEARING The feminist movements in the late 1970s termed the exploitation of women by men in the workplace as sexual harassment. This was emphasized by women’s groups who started to educate and garner their support. Statistics reveal that prior to the Clarence Thomas Supreme Court nomination hearings; sexual harassment in workplace was common in America. The Thomas nomination hearings in September and October 1991 drastically altered the political scenario on the issue of sexual harassment. Thomas, a conservative African American, a member of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia was nominated as a Justice of the Supreme Court. The Senate Judiciary Committee held eight days of hearing on the nomination. The nomination was sent to the full Senate without a recommendation. Prior to the scheduled vote, the National Public Radio broadcasted a story that spread rapidly. Anita Hill, a colleague of Thomas alleged sexual harassment against him. Intense pressure from public group s and interests culminated in the postponement schedules votes to investigate charges. Since the hearings were televised nationally, Americans became more educated and aware of the issue. The hearing ended with public opinion swaying in Thomas’ direction and he was confirmed by a narrow margin as a Supreme Court Justice. Simultaneously it was a failure of the women’s movement to remedy the issue of sexual harassment and it would be tolerated and those making the allegations failed to produce change. The focus on the issue enhanced citizen mobilization enhanced. The EEOC data showed equilibrium prior to the hearing. The increase in the number of charges filed corresponded with the timings of the hearing. It was evident that a new higher equilibrium of charges filed was attained. Thus, the cascading process denoted in fig. 3 was at work since there was inertial movement to a new equilibrium. There was no feedback prior or after the hearing. Before the hearings increased prior charges and successes resulted in fewer new charges. This suggests that negative feedback maintained the pre intervention equilibrium. After the hearings increased prior charges and successes produced new charges and successes. This suggests a cascading effect to the new equilibrium. Before the hearings and enhance media attention to sexual harassment actually produced few charges but after the hearings the effect of the media attention on new charges had a dynamic escalation. CONCLUSION This analysis has amalgamated the individual evaluation of costs and benefits with data and social forces resulting in a dynamic change in collective behavior which is best illustrated by using threshold model of collective behavior and distribution of individuals’ thresholds of non-acceptance on the conditions in society. The application of this was explained through the Thomas Supreme Court Nomination hearings. Focus of media and public resulted in more charges, more successes and increase of media attention. Thus in conclusion it can be said that is there is a pre-existing condition that many find privately costly, with widespread public acceptance, the system is ready for a metamorphosis. Since there is a multitude of such conditions prevalent in America at one time and disturbances are likely to occur and changes in the American political system will be present always. Reference Dan Wood, B., Doan, A. (2003). The politics of problem definition: applying and testing threshold models.American Journal of Political Science,47(4), 640-653.

The World Doesn’t Need Religion :: Free Argumentative Essays

The World Doesn’t Need Religion Religion has screwed us up for a long time and we'd be better off without it. By "us" I mean Americans living in the 21st century. Without religions we would have fewer labels separating us from each other and we wouldn't hate Jews or Catholics or Muslims. If we didn't have religions, we wouldn't have to convert anyone or "save" anyone. If we didn't have religions, people could no longer get caught up in the fine lines of religious rightousness or be trapped in a double-standard morality. And most importantly, we would be truly free of religious engendered guilt that never quite goes away. In America, people are less tolerant than before and words like Jew, Muslim, and Christian set us off and make us mad because we connect these labels with violence and war. We are planning to attack the "axis of evil" and in giving Iraq this label, we assume a moral duty on our part and the devil on theirs. There is no simple answer to the problems in the Middle East which are daily getting more and more out of control. But adding quasi-religious labels pushes us farther apart and increases the tension and opposition on all sides. I grew up in a Catholic family and went to Catholic grade school and high school and I don't regret it. It was an interesting experience and surely formed a great part of my character. But looking back, I see that the system of organized religion is rigged and the deck is stacked more in favor of the church than it is in favor of the faithful. Consider for a moment the Christian need to convert and save people, two more activities that could be done away with if we didn't have religion. Converting more followers keeps the organized religion afloat and promising salvation is the hook that gets people's attention. No one knows what happens after death. But some religions offer a promise of heaven or hell and, like children, we willing believe in this fantastic fairy tale. On another note, the church introduces us to the concept of guilt and tells us we are guilty even before we are born. This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Nontheless, if we find God, or Jesus, or convert, or confess before we die, we're saved.

Ielts Practice Essay

You should spend only 40 minutes on this task. Write at least 250 words. In many parts of the world there is continuous coverage of sport on television. Some people believe this discourages the young from taking part in any sport themselves. Discuss this view and give your own opinion. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Recently, a greater attention has been paid to sports programs on television. Some people state that watching TV to gain interests in sports is important for the young. However, there are some opponents who disagree with the above perspective. As such, there is a growing controversy whether young people should deal with this issue. In these following paragraphs, the arguments surrounding the issue of sports programs on TV will be carefully examined. The first point to consider is the fact that many youngsters can know about interesting sports by watching TV. There are many types of sports programs, where both children and adults learn numerous things from the top athletes’ performance. In addition, it is a great opportunity to listen to interviews after their performance. Some children may be inspired to be like their sports icons and consequently, try the sport themselves. Moreover, young people easily watch sports on TV anytime during their free time. In Japan, many daily news programs include sports. Hence, most of the young watch sports with the news. Even though, some young children do not have interests in current social news, they are able to see the lineup of all of the contents and will see news topics. On the other hand, there is no doubt that some young people spend too much time watching sports on television. Young children usually cannot manage their time well. What is more, nowadays many young people rather want to stay at home than go out as compared to in the past. Various kinds of sports programs on TV may discourage youngsters from going outside and playing sports themselves. In the final analysis, there are pros and cons for watching sports on television, however, that allows us to feel the fun in sports and gain knowledge about them easily. I firmly believe that sports contents on TV have an excellent power for the young.

Top Tips on How to Write a Screenplay

Top Tips on How to Write a Screenplay Top Tips on How to Write a Screenplay We’ve looked previously at the elements of a screenplay, but what about writing one? Are there any rules about how to do this? Well, not exactly. But we do have some great tips to share, so check out our guide below to find out more about writing scripts and screenplays. 1. Read Other Scripts Maybe you want to write a script because you’re a big fan of cinema. But have you ever tried reading a movie rather than watching one? This is a great way to see how most movie scripts use a three-act structure, as well as offering insights on how to write and format dialogue. An example of screenplay formatting. Try reading different types of script, too. For example, as well as reading the screenplay for your favorite movie, you can read one for a short film and an episode of a TV show. This will give you a better sense of how screenplays can vary and what you might want to write. 2. Create a Screenplay Outline Once you have an idea of the story you want to tell, you’ll be ready to outline your screenplay. This is like a blueprint for the screenplay proper. The amount of detail in an outline may vary, but it should include a breakdown of each act and scene you plan to include in the finished version. This will let you work out and finalize the story before you write it up in screenplay form. 3. Show, Don’t Tell Having a narrator in a screenplay is fine when done well, but it’s almost always better to use action to drive the story forward. So, instead of relying heavily on exposition, you should: Use strong action verbs wherever possible. For example, instead of saying someone is â€Å"running,† you could use a more descriptive term like â€Å"galloping† or â€Å"dashing† to reflect the tone or character of the scene. Let characters show who they are through dialogue and action. If you see your protagonist as â€Å"combative,† for instance, include a scene to establish this early on via the action (e.g., a confrontation between characters). Avoid unnecessary exposition by presenting story information as part of the action. If a character is talking at length about something that happened in the past, for example, you could instead insert a flashback to show the audience what happened. The key is that film and TV are primarily visual media, so â€Å"telling† the audience something is often a missed opportunity. By foregrounding action, on the other hand, your screenplay will become more dynamic. 4. Focus on the Writing It can be tempting to fill a script with stage or camera directions if you have an idea of how it should look. But unless you’re also directing the final version, this may not be your job! You should, of course, describe the action as best you can. But you can leave out mentions of close ups or instructions about scene transitions for now. These are usually added later in a shooting script, which comes after a studio has already bought a screenplay (or spec script). Summary: How to Write a Screenplay If you want to write a screenplay, there are a few things you might want to do: As well as watching movies and TV shows, read a range of scripts to get a sense of how they are presented and constructed. Outline the story, breaking it down by act and scene. This can help you work out story issues before you begin the screenplay. Remember that film and TV are visual media. As such, it is best to avoid too much exposition. Instead, use action to drive your story forward. Don’t worry about stage or camera directions in the first draft (unless you will be directing it yourself). Focus first on action and story. And, finally, don’t forget to have your screenplay checked by a professional to make sure it is error free and easy to read throughout.

Cruelty of Man Professor Ramos Blog

Cruelty of Man Cruelty of Man â€Å"Going to Meet the Man† by James Baldwin tells the story of a man named Jesse who is extremely racist, but is uncontrollably attracted to African Americans, while simultaneously wanting to torture them. The reason for this is Jesse’s past experience as a little boy watching the lynching of a black man that supposedly shoved a white woman. When Jesse arrives at the lynching, the black man has been striped of his clothes and his hanging from a tree branch by his wrists. There is fire underneath him, and white men are lowering him into the fire, pulling him out, and dipping him back in repeatedly. At one point, a man approaches the black man and mutilates his genitals beyond repair. The black man cries out in pain from the torture. They continue to burn the man until he dies, then tear apart the rest of his body to the point where he is unrecognizable. Throughout the whole ordeal, Jesse, as a child, becomes aroused at the sight of the black man being tortured. This vignette is telling of how normalized lynching African Americans was and how it affected American society. James Baldwin wrote in the lynching of the black man as a sort of casual gathering. Within the text, he refers to it as a â€Å"picnic,† which holds an extremely positive connotation (Baldwin 1339). However, the connotation is inaccurate when applied to the actual event that takes place. Baldwin portrays the lynching as nonchalant as the fact that, â€Å"torture killings could be so casually and nonchalantly represented stops us in our tracks, evoking a sensibility and a culture that seem puzzling as well as repellent,† (Garland). Baldwin is purposely attempting to make the audience uncomfortable with the situation because it should be uncomfortable. However, he is upping the ante by portraying it nonchalantly, which may even be somewhat infuriating to some readers. Baldwin has a strong grasp of what to say to invoke a reaction from his readers. I am able to invoke this same reaction through the creation of a collage focusing on the scene of the lynching. I created a collage based around the lynching of the black man on the basis of detail and significance. During the lynching, the main character reveals many characteristics of the black man, showing that he is the most important thing in that setting, and the rest of the people mean close to nothing. I represent that through the amount of detail within the collage. All of the spectators are blank, with no expressions whatsoever. The black man, however, holds extreme detail throughout his body. This is meant to represent how in the story, the other people around were an afterthought, while the black man was the main focus of the main character, as the man is the source of his lifelong attraction to African Americans and torturing them in any way he can. I also included a much more detailed version of the man to show just how grotesque the act of lynching him is. However, the blankness of the audience behind him shows how they see it as a casual experience, not repelled at all by their own actions (Garland). The details in the work reveal what is most important. I chose a collage over every other medium because of how fragmented it looks. The story of the lynching, from the main character’s point of view, is told by a child, who may not have an accurate representation of the event in his memory. Children are known to have their memories somewhat warped as they age, which may have happened with the case of the main character in this story. I used a collage to represent how fragmented this memory might be, while also providing as much detail as the main character remembers from his childhood. The pieces within the collage also represent all of the pieces of society and how they have come together to commit an atrocity and stain on the human race. However, all of these pieces could be rearranged in some way to make the scene different, just as society could change and realize that the hateful act depicted in the collage is wrong and unjust. â€Å"Going to Meet the Man† by James Baldwin was written as a reflection of society in a way that makes society want to change. By showing how displeasing, yet casual the act of lynching African Americans is, Baldwin is exposing society for how cruel it is and evoking an emotional response from his audience. I am able to do this same thing with my collage. It evokes a response from the audience with its visual composition. Overall the inclusion of a lynching as a casual experience is what drives both works and sends the message that society is cruel and should question itself. Baldwin, James. â€Å"Going to Meet the Man.† The Norton Anthology: American Literature: 1865 to Present, edited by Robert S. Levine, W. W. Norton Company, 2017, pp 1331-1343. Garland, David. â€Å"Penal Excess and Surplus Meaning: Public Torture Lynchings in Twentieth-Century America.† Law Society Review, vol. 39, no. 4, Dec. 2005, pp. 793–833. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1111/j.1540-5893.2005.00245.x.

Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Philosophy - Essay Example Introduction Death Penalty, also referred to as Capital punishment, entails the execution of a convicted wrongdoer by law/judicial process enforcement officers as a punishment for a particular crime(s). It is ever the most severe punishment form. The various lawful means through which death penalty is administered comprise hanging, lethal injection, firing squad, electrocution, gassing and use of the guillotine (Duhaime 1). The offences punishable via capital punishment include but are not limited to rape and other sexual crimes, murder, espionage, treason and repeated crimes. They are referred to as capital crimes. This form of punishment is also performed as part of military justice. The criminal provisions for death penalty deem such individuals (convicted offenders) as a gross menace to the existence of the society (Legal-explanations.com 1). Majority of countries around the world have banned the death penalty. Infoplease.com quotes Amnesty International which records that 137 co untries have abolished this form of punishment. Additionally, a considerable reduction in the number of executions yearly in countries that have not banned it is evident. For instance, in the year 2007, twenty-four countries put 1,252 people to death, (of which eighty-eight percent took place in Saudi Arabia, China, Pakistan, Iran and USA alone), while in the previous year, they had executed 1,591 individuals. In 51 countries that apply death penalty to particular crimes’ offenders, approximately 3,350 people received the death penalty in 2006. In the year 2009, more than twenty thousand prisoners were on death row globally (Infoplease.com 1). In the view of people who support capital punishment, the threat of executions dissuades individuals from committing capital crimes, and thus it is more effective than incarceration. While this claim is credible, numerous studies on the topic of death penalty and deterrence in addition to the rate of capital crimes in countries that app ly the death penalty yields different result – they do not support this idea. In effect, in countries that do not apply the death penalty, the rate of capital crimes is continuously lower as opposed to those countries that apply it.  For instance, of the four regions of the United States, the Southern region has the highest rate of capital crimes despite the region having more than eighty percent of all executions in the United States. Moreover, a recent study revealed that of the surveyed United States’ top criminologists, eighty-eight percent are not for the belief that capital punishment deters capital crimes (Lacock & Radelet 503). There is ample prove that capital crime rates and the death penalty lack correlation. A major study by the United Nations concluded that there lacks substantiation of the view that compared to life incarceration; death penalty has a greater deterrent effect. Findings from the United States of America in addition indicate that death pen alty does not prevent capital crime. Moreover, reports from the American Civil Liberties Union divulge that states that apply death penalty laws do not have lower rates of capital crimes than those states that do not apply it (Peikrishvili 5). What is more is that a US police chiefs’ national survey disqualifies the  claim that death penalty is an essential tool of reducing the number of capital crimes with the police chiefs

The skills and attributes required to manage a hotel Assignment

The skills and attributes required to manage a hotel - Assignment Example It can be argued that the hospitality industry has transformed itself from a product-focused business to a customer-focused one and from a physical-asset intensive business to an experience-centric one. In order to understand the skills that are required by managers and employees in a hotel to perform better it is important to understand the concept of competencies. Competencies can be described as factors that improve the performance of individuals in jobs. According to the definition provided by Woodruffe (1993), competency provides â€Å"provide the dimension against which people should be assessed for readiness or potential to move into jobs against which they should be appraised and upon which they should be developed†. Skills has been defined as parameters that helps in achieving environmental goals by maximizing certainty of achievement by minimizing cost and time spent (Wadongo, Kambona and Odhuno, 2011). In the past three decades, large number of researchers has focused on the importance of skills and competencies required to run hotels. Skills and competencies are important for both managers and graduates who chose to enter in the hospitality industry. The ability to take initiative has been identified as one of the biggest skills needed to run hotels on the part of managers. This is because initiative can be identified as a parameter that is able to gain support and motivation from others. Hotels are visited by customers from all over the world and managers needs to guarantee satisfaction for the guests. In order to manage the guests and provide them proper satisfaction managers need to have three major types of skills namely conceptual skills, technical skills and human skills. Requirement of skills are further dependent on the hierarchy of the organization and the type of work of the employees. This implies